Investigation into the crash of a US military aircraft in Afghanistan’s Ghazni province will take days to determine if enemy activity or technical malfunction was really to blame. Meanwhile, Taliban’s claims of downing the bird are likely to spoil the atmosphere of the ongoing dialogue to reach a peaceful settlement. After controversial reports, a spokesperson for the US forces in Afghanistan confirmed the crash, saying there were no clues the plane was claimed by enemy fire. The crash report gathered lots of suspicion as Taliban militants were quick to issue a statement claiming the attack and posting pictures and a video on social media. The rugged terrain where the plane crashed falls in Taliban-controlled areas. A US military spokesperson said: “Due to Afghanistan’s mountainous terrain and lack of existing communication infrastructure, serious communication challenges prevented the four-man SEAL patrol from effectively establishing contact with their combat operations center, leaving them vulnerable to the attacks that claimed the lives of 19 special operations forces service members.” To prevent such deaths, the Trump administration has been finding ways to leave Afghanistan, but only after striking a ‘peace deal’ with the Taliban. Since the beginning of the war in 2001, the US has lost more than 2,400 service members. Dialogue with the official Afghan government’s rival Taliban has been going on for two years, first in Doha, and now in Pakistan. Last year, President Trump abruptly terminated the dialogue process after the death of a US service staff member in an attack claimed by the Taliban. A few months later, the second round of dialogue began, this time in Pakistan. In both phases, Taliban never agreed to a ceasefire. In January, they offered a 10-day ceasefire, only if the peace agreement was signed. Neither the agreement, nor the ceasefire saw the day of the light. In recent days, Pakistan and the US have exchanged views on a possible peace settlement in Afghanistan. A settlement, however, where the Kabul government is not a party, and Taliban are not ready to shun their primitive ideas, will lead nowhere. *